SU President Shane Brogan has defended changes being made to office space in the Union amid tensions with staff and sabbaticals.
BY BRENDAN HUGHES
Brogan insists the changes, which are due to begin next week, will be for the benefit of the Union, creating more free space for students’ use.
“The offices in here aren’t efficient. My current office is about the same size as Peter Gregson’s,” Brogan said.
Currently, as much as half of all student room bookings are held in other Queen’s buildings due to the Union’s lack of space.
It is believed that the office shake-up has caused some tension in SU towers, with several members of staff and elected student officers unhappy with the changes. Some sources have complained that relevant parties were not given enough notice. However, Brogan has hit back at this suggestion, saying that proposals were presented to present Sabbatical officers in January, and have been talked about since June last year.
The office plans will see many Union employees who are currently in private offices move into shared rooms. It is intended that this will make the whole third floor free for students to use. One room on the third floor will be used for ‘hot-desking’ facilities, which will give students who run annual events a base with a phone and computer to work from for the required duration. Computers will also be installed with design packages such as Adobe InDesign, hoping to encourage students to develop high-quality faculty publications.
The biggest structural change sees the wall between the President’s current office and the reception knocked in to create one larger, communal office for Sabbatical officers. SU marketing and entertainments personnel will move into the current Sabbaticals’ office.
Sounds like a great idea, more room for students!
Its about time. All that needs to be done now is to get the circus with the balcony on the third floor closed.
I just find it a tad convienient that this decision is taken towards the end of the academic year when Brogan is about to leave office.
@ unknown male
What is the circus on the balcony on the 3rd floor?
And why would shane want to have an office shake-up before he leaves? what would he gain from something that is so unexciting and uncomplicated?
@ confused
I apologise. The circus to which I refer is the office at the end of the third floor corridor which houses, amongst others, Rod Martin – Entertainments Manager, Lorraine Meneilley – Commercial Services Manager and that charming Bars Manager, I never could remember his name but I have had so many deep philosophical conversations with him – looks like Penfold from DangerMouse.
You certainly are confused now. Why didn’t Shane make this decision at the beginning of the year when it would have more of an impact on himself?
This way he gets to leave office having left a legacy by creating more space in the union for students and cutting down the office space used by frankly pointless staff.
But its not a bold move, every sabatical officer used to have their own office pre shake-up a few years ago, now their “slumming it” opposite to the Waste of Space*.
I just think its odd for such a big end of term decision that really has very little impact on Shane.
Next thing you know the sabbatical officers will be asked to use the cloakroom….
it’s not about having an impact on Shane. It’s about benefiting the students. Surely if he did it at the beginning of his term in office there would be uproar at the fact that due notice was not given to those vacating offices.
I think it is a brilliant idea. Give credit where it’s due, instead of criticism were it’s really not needed.
Union in financial crises and Brogan is spending more money.
A very poor dictator president.
@ student1
“there would be uproar at the fact that due notice was not given to those vacating offices”
boo hoo, leaders make executive decisions. how long has this idea been sitting at the back of his head? did he just wake up one morning and say “hmmm… wouldn’t it be great if all the sabatical officers could work in one office leaving more space for the students, I’m Shane Brogan and knocking walls down was my idea”.
I also thought the union was supposed to be short of money. I’m not up on the third floor much but the rooms there hardly ever seem to be occupied so why is it that the union thinks they need more rooms for students not to occupy? Or maybe it’s not the union but one particular person in the union – dictator Brogan?
Well in all fairness I was talking to two staff today and they still don’t know when there moving so the gown seem to know more than them…excellent team work in the union – bravo.
Having more space for Clubs and Socs would be welcome, there’s been more than a few double bookings of late.
The events room would be very welcome, it was used for this purpose once before during the building renovations and was a great success.
Union in financial STRAIN – not crisis – and Brogan spending money to increase student space in the building… oh noo, what a dictator he is…!! :O Not.
The first I heard of office changes was on the blog! notice what notice?
Lots of Clubs and Societies are pressed for meeting space at the moment with many having double bookings in The Space and the Snack Bar as a result.
Additionally many groups lack regular meeting rooms because there isn’t the space for them in an already crowded building.
Many people are in favor of expanded facilities and we are happy that Shane has taken this step.
If he is a dictator he’s a mighty benevolent one.
As a student in Elms I would think that trying to ensure accommodation prices not rising for next year would be time better spent or getting value for money on the fortune I have give them this year.
Moving staff around, brilliant idea? Why now? Has it taken him 9 months to sort this out? I am sure with this quick thinking he has a successful career ahead of him as a civil servant.
‘Ladies and Gentle the titanic is sinking but the deck chairs have been rearranged.
@Litespark
Shane Brogan? A civil servant? Don’t make me laugh. You need to pass an aptitude test involving data analysis, lateral thinking and spacial awareness as well as convincing an interview panel that you’re not a waste of a medical card number. Personally I think it would be a bridge too far for Shane Brogan.
You fail to declare an interest. Among those affected are the Gown, and they are not best pleased.